Newborn feeding questions!

[bessie26]

hi, DD2 is 2 days old & I'm wondering if she's latching on correctly? I didn't bf DD1 until she was 3 weeks old as she was prem so have no idea what newborns feeding should be like!

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She's feeding for 10-15mins, falling asleep on the boob so I take her off, wind her, & lay her down, but after a couple of mins she's crying & rooting around again, so I pop her back on the same boob but she just falls asleep sucking again.

I'm wondering if the latch is wrong? Or if she's just "putting her order in" for more milk tomorrow? TBH I am so tired it's quite possible I'm missing something really obvious - can you spot it?!

Sounds really normal for such early days. You do have to do stuff to get them to stay awake to feed, ie wiggle their ears, tickle toes. You're doing really well and she will be feeding a lot just to say to your body "hey I'm here, make lots of milk please!"

Are you worried she isn't getting enough? 15mins every hour or so sounds reasonable to me for a newborn, but I'm sure more expert people can advise.

If my 3week old falls asleep feeding but I think she should have more then I change her nappy to wake her up. Bigger feeds gives me a bit longer between feeds to sleep.

Sounds perfectly normal to me. It is very tiring though isn't it? Are you able to just stay in bed for a few days, just concentrate on feeding and sleeping? I know that is hard with another child. How old is your DD1? I had lots of books on the bed with me and whenever DD wanted my attention I would let her come and sit with me and I would show her what I was doing and tell her why and let her stroke DSs hair a little, and then I would read to her/have her read me stories. Also DH took DD a lot in the first weeks as I established a routine.

I also stroked his cheek to wake him in order to encourage more feeding, and if he woke he wanted more, and if he did not wake I took it he was full.

DD woke every 3-4 hours for her milk so I was completely floored by a little boy who wanted feeding 1-2hourly!

Thanks for your replies! & Sorry if my post didn't make complete sense, am doing sleepy one-handed typing on a phone!

Am glad you think 15mins every hour is ok & not a sign of a bad latch, but is she likely to do this all day every day?! Every time i put her down she cries & wants more food & i'm wondering how I will sleep! I sent DH into the spare room so he could get some sleep & play with DD1 when she wakes, and DD2 is sleeping on me, so I'm hoping she'll have the energy to stay awake for her next feed!

i honestly can't remember how long this happened for, but it did change, quite quickly (to 2 hourly!), she needs to build up your milk supply, and I also managed to find ways of catching up on sleep so could start being mobile again. But remember you need time to rest too as you have just had a new baby! in time, you will find the energy to get up and dressed, and leave the house occasionally, and feed baby around other things that need doing/vice versa. For now you are going to be milking machine!

Can you hear her swallowing during feeds? Are her cheeks rounded or sucked in?

At 2 days old remember it's still colostrum, and her tummy is the size of a marble, so she'll be taking a few mls frequently.

How does the latch feel to you - are you sore, misshapen nipples after a feed?

Like you my first was premmie and in hospital on a drip for the first week or so. when he did start feeding the intervals were more like 3 hours or so, so when I had dd the first few days were a real shock! Think she fed ever 45 min to an hour for the first 5 dayish.....Nights were hardcore. BUT as soon as milk came in and she settled down it got easier. After the first week it was more like 2 hours then 3 hours....
I suggest curling up in bed on sofa and getting everyone else to do everything! It honestly won't last forever

The latch looks ok to me (although it has been 18months since I last bf!), her mouth is wide open, chin going up & down. I did hear a couple of gulps at one feed this morning. Cheeks are rounded. No mishapen nipples, they are a little bit sore but not too bad.

Thank-you so much for the reassurance that this is normal & should start getting better once my milk comes in!

DD1 is 2.5, but still napping (yay!) so DH can keep DD1 entertained while DD2 & I do whatever we need to do & look after DD2 while DD1 & I sleep!

DD2 apparently had a pooing frenzy (to match the earlier feeding frenzy) while I slept this arvo! My boobs feel much fuller since I woke up, so think the milk is starting to come in. DD2 just fed for 30mins & has collapsed into a milky coma on my lap